Afghanistan
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- theocracy
- CONSTITUTION
- new, signed on January 16, 2004 (based on the one from 1964); suspended by the Taliban in 2021
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- the Taliban are applying their interpretation of Islamic law, which is partly based on the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- the Taliban government has not announced the formation of a legislative body
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court and many provincial courts, religious courts and specialized courts
RELIGIONS
Muslim 99.7% (Sunnis 84.7 - 89.7%, Shia 10 - 15%), other <0.3% (2009 est.)
From the country
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
TEHRAN AND KABUL TRADE ACCUSATIONS OF RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
The Taliban's foreign minister has criticised its leading economic ally and political supporter, Tehran, for the high number of executions in Iran, Farsi media reported.
JUNE 21, 2023AfghanistanDEATH PENALTYAFGHANISTAN: TALIBAN CARRY OUT 2ND KNOWN PUBLIC EXECUTION SINCE SEIZING POWER
Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers on June 19, 2023 carried out what is believed to be the second confirmed public execution since the religious group took power in 2021, according to the country’s Supreme Court.
JUNE 11, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran Hands Over Scores Of Afghan Prisoners To Taliban
- JUNE 2, 2023United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
USA - U.N. Body Condemns Torture of Guantánamo Prisoner Awaiting Capital Trial
Together with United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Lithuania, Morocco, Poland, Romania and Thailand
- MAY 9, 2023AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
UNITED NATIONS: TALIBAN'S USE OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT VIOLATES HUMAN RIGHTS
The United Nations on May 9, 2023 called out the Taliban for their widespread use of corporal punishment, including public lashings and amputations, and execution in violation of international rights.
- DECEMBER 19, 2022AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN: TALIBAN OFFICIAL PARDONS HIS FATHER'S MURDERER
A senior Afghan official has pardoned a man sentenced to death for murdering the politician's father, a court said on 18 December 2022, days after Taliban authorities carried out the first public execution since the Islamists seized power.
- DECEMBER 8, 2022AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
TALIBAN CARRY OUT 1ST PUBLIC EXECUTION SINCE AFGHAN TAKEOVER
The Taliban authorities on 7 December 2022 executed an Afghan convicted of killing another man, the first public execution since the former insurgents took over Afghanistan last year.
NOVEMBER 22, 2022AfghanistanDEATH PENALTYAFGHANISTAN: TALIBAN PUBLICLY FLOGGED 19 PEOPLE AS PUNISHMENT FOR ADULTERY & THEFT
The hardline Islamist Taliban regime on November 19, 2022 lashed at least 19 people for committing various crimes such as adultery, theft, and running away from home, a Supreme Court official confirmed.
- JULY 13, 2022AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN: WATCHDOG ALLEGES TALIBAN ‘SUMMARILY’ EXECUTED AT LEAST 100 SUSPECTED ISLAMIC STATE MEMBERS
Taliban security forces in eastern Afghanistan have extrajudicially killed dozens of suspected members and supporters of a local affiliate of the Islamic State terrorist group, according to Human Rights Watch.
- OCTOBER 17, 2021AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN: TALIBAN ASK OFFICIALS NOT TO CARRY OUT PUBLIC EXECUTIONS UNLESS DIRECTED BY APEX COURT
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has directed local officials to avoid carrying out punishments in public unless the country's top court issues the order for public execution.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2021AfghanistanDEATH PENALTYAFGHANISTAN: TALIBAN ISSUE DEATH SENTENCE FOR BROTHER OF TRANSLATOR WHO HELPED US TROOPS
The Taliban have sentenced the brother of an Afghan translator to death, according to letters obtained by CNN, accusing him of helping the US and providing security to his brother, who served as an interpreter to American troops.
MARCH 16, 2021AfghanistanDEATH PENALTYAFGHANISTAN: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KABUL UNIVERSITY ATTACK
An appellate court in Parwan on 3 March 2021 sentenced to death two suspects accused of plotting the November 2020 attack on Kabul University.